Redskins Getting Ready For Opener

Final Preseason Contest A Tuneup For Dallas Game

The defending Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins are a family again, and not a week too soon.

The Redskins will play their final, and only, home preseason game at 8 tonight against the Minnesota Vikings, a team that has scored 110 points and allowed just six in winning three consecutive games.

The Redskins struggled while veterans Darrell Green and Jim Lachey and top draft pick Desmond Howard boycotted camp in salary disputes, losing their first three and playing poorly in a 27-23 victory over the Los Angeles Raiders last Saturday.

It was a month-long stretch in which Coach Joe Gibbs evaluated 80 players, held leads when veterans played the first halves and lost games when backups played the second halves.

The Redskins outscored their opponents 52-23 in the first halves and were outscored 53-23 in the second halves. Their three losses were by a total of four points.

Gibbs indicated earlier in the week that most of the player evaluations have been completed. He said he will throw Green, Lachey and Howard, who signed this past Tuesday, into the fray tonight as the Redskins play their final tuneup before next Monday night's regular-season opener in Dallas.

``We can't afford to baby anyone,'' Gibbs said in reference to the three recent signees. ``We've got to go hard, and if a player gets hurt, he gets hurt.''

Gibbs is expected to go with his regular players into the third quarter and, depending on how they play, maybe longer.

In the fourth quarter, Gibbs will probably give Howard a chance to return a punt or kickoff and catch a few passes. Players on the bubble will get a chance to earn roster spots in the final 15 minutes or so but, with teams having to cut down to 47 players by Monday afternoon, only a few battles remain.

Here's the way it looks:

OFFENSE

* Quarterback: Mark Rypien, Cary Conklin and Jeff Rutledge are in. Rookie Chris Hakel, who complained of a sore throwing shoulder last weekend, is headed for safe haven on injured reserve, where he'll spend the season.

* Running backs: Earnest Byner, Ricky Ervins and Brian Mitchell are locks. Veteran John Settle and rookie Robert Green are battling for the final roster spot with Green probably headed for injured reserve with an injury to be determined later.

* H-Backs: Terry Orr is in, and rookie Ray Rowe appears to have a slight edge over Gary Wilkins for the backup spot.

* Tight end: Don Warren, Rick Middleton, James Jenkins and deep snapper John Brandes appear to have it made. Dennis Ransom likely will be waived when he gets over his ankle injury.

* Line: The starting five is intact and Ray Brown will be the backup at guard. Rookie Matt Elliott may stick as the backup center, but it's a mess after that. Mo Elewonibi and Thomas Rayam are the backup tackles, but Rayam has played poorly and Elewonibi can't stay healthy. With Mark Adickes, Darryl Moore and Paul Siever injured, Gibbs may look around the league for backup help at this once-deep area.

* Secondary: The deep secondary appears set with Danny Copeland and Alvin Walton at strong safety, and Brad Edwards and Terry Hoage at free safety. The first four cornerbacks will be Green, Martin Mayhew, A.J. Johnson and Alvoid Mays. Journeyman Johnny Thomas and holdover Sidney Johnson are battling for the final job.

* Special teams: No surprises. Chip Lohmiller is the kicker, and incumbent punter Kelly Goodburn held off Jeff Fite's challenge.